2025 Kireka Open -Samuel Gai Ngong is the winner
The 2025 Kireka Open ended on a high note on New Year’s Eve with Samuel Gai Ngong of South Sudan winning the event with a perfect score of eight points out of eight rounds. He went home with UGX 1.6 million (USD 450).
His compatriot Gong Thon Gong grabbed the silver with seven points, while Emmanuel Musasizi of Uganda grabbed the bronze with seven points as well, but a lower tie-break.
The Open Section saw 156 participants with seven Kenyans battling it out for top honours.
The event was the 4th event of the Uganda Grand Prix Circuit.
Ladies Section
The Ladies Section, with 40 players, was hotly contested and ended with a three-way tie for first place. WCM Patricia Kawuma, however, took the gold with WFM Sana Omprakash Kayyar taking the silver and WFM Peninah Nakabo grabbing the bronze. All three ladies tied with 6.5 points each.
Kenya was well represented by Awour Concillia Ndegwa who scored 5.5 points, Yvonne Mwashe and Genevieve Maashao (both with 5 points).
Junior Section
Osborn Tulinaye won the Junior Section with six points, beating a field of 100 players. Trevor Tumukunde took the silver with six points but a lower tie-break.
Game Corner
Photo Gallery
Past winners
2024 – 8th edition – Abel Matovu (& Ladies – Penina Nakabo)
2023 – 7th edition – Gong Thon Gong & (Ladies – Sana Omprakash Kayyar)
2022 – 6th edition – IM Arthur Ssegwanyi & (Ladies – Peninah Nakabo)
2021 – 5th edition – IM Arthur Ssegwanyi
2020 – 4th edition – IM Arthur Ssegwanyi
2018 – 3rd edition – Solomon Lubega
2017 – 2nd edition – FM Harold Wanyama
2016 – 1st edition – IM Arthur Ssegwanyi
Event Details
Event Organiser – Kireka Chess Club.
Venue – Sporks View Hotel.
Dates – 28th to 31st December 2025.
Time Control & Rounds for Open & Ladies Section – 90 minutes plus 30 seconds and eight rounds.
Time Control & Rounds for Junior – 60 minutes and six rounds.
Prize Fund – UGX 7.8 million (USD 2,300).
Entry fee – UGX 40,000.
Links
2025 Kireka Open on chess-results.com.
2025 Kireka Open live games on lichess.org.
Photo Album from the 2025 Kireka Open – Credit Ivan Mukuye.
Abel Matovu wins 2024 Kireka Open.
2024 Kireka Open on chess-results.com.
Live Chess Cloud for the 2024 Kireka Open.
2024 Kireka Open on lichess.org.
Photo album from the 2024 Kireka Open.
Gong Thon Gong wins 7th Kireka Open Chess Championship.
IM Ssegwanyi wins 6th Kireka Open Chess Championship
6th Kireka Open Chess Championship on chess-results.com.
IM Ssegwanyi wins 5th Kireka Open Chess Championship.
5th Kireka Open Chess Championship on chess-results.com.
IM Arthur Ssegwanyi wins 4th Kireka Open.
Solomon Lubega wins 3rd Kireka Open.
FM Harold Wanyama wins 2nd Kireka Open.
IM Arthur Ssegwanyi wins 1st Kireka Open.
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Article by Kenya Chess Masala.